Beware of Scams

Warwickshire Police ask residents to be aware of a number of current email, phone and text scams.

One is a so called phishing email that tries to get the unwary to click on an apparently innocent link in what seems to an email from the Police themselves.

The email says that the recipient is being summoned to court as a witness and asks them to follow a link. By clicking on the link a virus or malware can be downloaded on their computer.

It uses a police.uk heading and suggests it is from the Crown Prosecution Service portal, but is not official and represents a risk to security.

If any members of the public receive such an email they are advised not to click on any links and delete the email from their accounts as soon as possible.

I know we are all very savvy but there is a worrying story in the Guardian newspaper this week warning never to trust texts or calls from banks (however trustworthy they appear) that urge us to use a specific telephone number to dial about a problem.

The scammers may say or text there has been what they think is a large withdrawal or some mistaken transaction. We need to contact the bank’s fraud department.

The answer is always phone the bank back on a known number such as that given on the back of a debit or credit card. Never use the one the fraudsters suggest and always check the telephone line has disconnected before dialling any number after a call to you. Perhaps dial another number first before the bank to clear the line.

The Guardian says this scam could happen because a third party like Uber may have been hacked giving access to name, telephone number, address and part of debit or credit card number.